Cubs to give Montgomery another start

CHICAGO -- Lefty Mike Montgomery will stay in the Cubs' rotation and start in the series finale on Wednesday against the Brewers. It will be Montgomery's fourth start with the Cubs, and he has yet to record a decision.

"If you have a guy like that in the six-hole, it makes it easier to do what we're doing now," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the philosophy of going with a "soft" six-man rotation.

CHICAGO -- Lefty Mike Montgomery will stay in the Cubs' rotation and start in the series finale on Wednesday against the Brewers. It will be Montgomery's fourth start with the Cubs, and he has yet to record a decision.

"If you have a guy like that in the six-hole, it makes it easier to do what we're doing now," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the philosophy of going with a "soft" six-man rotation.

The Cubs are trying to keep the starters fresh in hopes of playing deep in October.

"Right now our starters are pitching as well as they have all year," Maddon said. "I'd like to think if we continue along this path, we'll keep that freshness about them."

Chicago starters began Sunday leading the Majors with a combined 2.88 ERA.

Worth noting

• Reliever Hector Rondon, on the disabled list since Aug. 17 with a right triceps strain, is expected to be activated early this upcoming week. Rondon threw a 22-pitch simulated game on Saturday.

• Maddon likes Javier Baez's aggressiveness on the bases but admits he does worry that the young infielder could get hurt with his headfirst slides.

"It's hard to take a guy's natural instincts and contain them," Maddon said.

Maddon has credited Baez with having a strong baseball acumen, which allows him to play all over the field at different positions.

"He sees things -- he's like a good running back," Maddon said. "Give him the ball, and he'll find a hole. He's like a good point guard in basketball. He just has that chip. Sometimes it will get him in trouble, too."

• Maddon was not sure whether the Cubs would call up any players once Triple-A Iowa's season ends on Monday.

"Right now, if you're going to come up here, it's because you're going to help us win," Maddon said.